1CMM Forums: Connecting Speakers to a laptop

	Active Topics Memberlist Calendar Search Help
	Register Login

General Chat
1CMM Forums : Public Forums : General Chat

Topic: Connecting Speakers to a laptop

Author	Message
Veritas Newbie Joined: 22/August/2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Topic: Connecting Speakers to a laptop Posted: 22/August/2006 at 4:49pm
	I got a Dell Inspiron 1505 with just the stock graphics card. I am interested in connecting some speakers to the laptop and don't know what my limit is to what speakers i can use (speaking as watts). Is there other hardware that I will need to go along with the speakers to hook it up to my laptop? Thanks, T42.
	IP Logged

solitary00 Forum Whore Joined: 17/May/2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 986	Posted: 22/August/2006 at 5:00pm
	Headphone jacks put out very little power.... Not nearly enough to drive a decent speaker (or even a decent pair of headphones for that matter).. Watts are not what you need to be concerned with, underpowering a speaker will fry it MUCH faster than overpowering it. To do this, you will need some sort of amplification. Most 2.1-5.1 computer speakers have an amp in the sub, which is why all speakers connect back to it. If you wanted to hook Home Speakers up to your laptop you will either need active monitors (expensive, hard to find) or a home audio amp.. If you're trying to run your audio through an already existing stereo setup all you need is http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102974 at the appropriate length.. The headphone plug goes into the laptop, and the RCA plugs go into one of the inputs on your amp.
	-bullet buffer-
	IP Logged

Veritas Newbie Joined: 22/August/2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Posted: 22/August/2006 at 6:18pm
	thank you... so if i bought speakers with a subwoofer, and lets say it has an internal amp, would i still need to buy a home amp? i'm guessing headphone jacks are the only place on a laptop to feed speakers also?
	IP Logged

Fayaz Admin Group Administrator Joined: 12/May/2005 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 782	Posted: 22/August/2006 at 7:40pm
	If you buy a decent speaker/subwoofer set, there is a built-in amp. Keep in mind that PC speaker systems are essentially designed for PC speaker 3.5mm input. A home amp is best suited for larger wired speakers. For laptops, you can also get a PCMCIA sound card which will deliver far better audio than the stock built-in SigmaTel card. Just slip into one of the expansion slots. Something like the Audigy 2 ZS for notebooks can provide you with THX certified sound, EAX 4.0 HD, 3D positional audio and DTS-ES/Dolby Digital decoding. Regardless, the output will still be 3.5mm pc speaker or 3.5mm digital out.

	IP Logged

Tybox Forum Whore Joined: 10/August/2005 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 1398	Posted: 22/August/2006 at 8:51pm
	1CMM tech team to the rescue yet again!
	IP Logged

Bhopx Groupie Joined: 14/November/2005 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 142	Posted: 22/August/2006 at 10:09pm
	only get a Creative Audigy 2 ZS if you plan on getting some Creative brand speakers with it. I own an Audigy 2 ZS Platinum.

	IP Logged

Printable version

Forum Jump

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Bugs? Account issues? Please contact the forum administrator.